Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year A
Sunday May 3, 2020
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2)
Now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your
souls. (1 Peter)
I am the gate for the sheep. (John 10)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls himself the “gate” of humble
justice, selfless compassion
and ready forgiveness that
leads us to the dwelling place
of God. In this Easter season,
God invites us to pass through
the threshold that is his Risen
Christ: to leave behind our Tues. ~ ………………………………………. May 5
sadness and fears and doubts in
order to come into the safety
and warmth of God’s hearth of peace and compassion.
When our spirits ache over what has been lost, when we Wed. ~
lose our moral and ethical way, when we feel our footing slip
beneath us as we try to navigate life’s twists and turns,
Christ’s voice can always be heard above the noise and din
our lives if we listen for it with hope, conviction and faith. Thurs. ~ ………………………………………. May 7th
Sometimes we look at the Gospel from our modern,
sophisticated perspective and quietly dismiss what Jesus says
as too unrealistic or too simplistic to deal with the complex
problems we must face. But there is no high-tech, Fri. ~
comfortable, convenient road to living the Gospel of
forgiveness, compassion and justice. “To have life to the
full” demands that we journey by way of the “gate” of
Gospel wisdom, charity, reconciliation, compassion and
Sat. ~
justice.
Sun. ~
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
SUNDAY MAY 3RD
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Christians are invited to reflect
on the meaning of God’s call and to pray for vocations.
Christ, the Good Shepherd, continues to lead his people
through His Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and calls many to
follow Him in this way. Priestly, diaconal, and religious
vocations should be a constant concern in the hearts of God’s
people. Let us remember in our prayers to be thankful
for all those who have answered God’s call.
Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis
to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The month of May is approaching, a time when the People
of God express with particular intensity their love and
devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this
month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The
restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to
appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a
spiritual point of view.
For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover
the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of
May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you
can decide according to your own situations, making the
most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always
simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good
models of prayers to follow.
This week, the Sanctuary Lamp burns in
memory of:
+ EMILIANO PAPA
The Sanctuary Lamp burns to remind us of Christ’s
presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.
If you wish to sponsor the sanctuary lamp for one
week, the stipend is $35.00
Mass Intentions
 May 5 - May 10, 2020
As we gather, let us remember and pray for . . .
th
+ Pietro & Ursula Elia
+ Michael & Olga D’Alessio
(by Connie & Louis Elia)
………………………………………. May 6th
+ Manuel da Silva
(by Maria da Silva)
+ Eileen Senior
(by Bonehill Family)
………………………………………. May 8th
Intns of Hendriks & deKoning
Family - L&D
(by Andy & Helen Hendriks)
………………………………………. May 9th
For the People of St. Helen Parish
……………………………………… May 10th
+ Rita Crevier
(by Shirley Brunet & Family)
+ Maria Guerriero (by Michelle Leva)
+ Ivan Zuzek (by Sue Zuzek)
I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can
recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in
the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I
include them with this letter so that they are available to
everyone. (Please see last page of this bulletin for prayers.)
Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ
with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more
united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this
time of trial. I keep all of you in my prayers, especially
those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray
for me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my
blessing. Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK - IGNITING HOPE
Catholic Education Week 2020 begins on Sunday, May 3,
2020. Publicly funded Catholic education has existed in
Ontario since 1841 and its graduates have served Ontario and
Canada very well. The current generation of students in our
publicly funded Catholic schools will serve with the same
spirit and generosity as their previous generations.
Please keep the Niagara Catholic Schoolboard community
in your prayers, teachers, support staff, students and families.
 Prayers from Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis
to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020

FIRST PRAYER
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,

you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.

Amen.

We fly to your protection,

O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

SECOND PRAYER
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and
our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and
mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who
are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to
them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and
employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope
and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the
victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking
their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel,
are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective
solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic
necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will
instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so
that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us
strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful
hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O
Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

A 3rd Prayer that can be recited after the Rosary.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Litany of Loreto)
(For public or private use)

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honour, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of Ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and boy, and by the
glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting happiness.
Through Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen